BESTIVAL, the fancy-dress friendly event that wraps up the festival season, makes it Dorset debut next month on the same site as its sister festival CAMP BESTIVAL. ROB DA BANK tells JOANNA DAVIS there's a lot to look forward to.

A BRAND-NEW era for Bestival begins right here in Dorset in 13 days.

The popular festival, which once called the Isle of Wight home, has moved to Lulworth Castle in Dorset and takes place from September 7 to 10.

Rob da Bank said: "We are honoured to say that The xx will be the first ever Castle Stage headliners at Bestival!

"Never anything less than breath-taking, we can’t think of a more fitting band to get the main stage action underway in our new home."

Indie band The xx have had massive success since they formed in 2005.

The Londoners' third album I See You is the group's biggest worldwide chart success to date. I See You debuted at number 1 in seven countries including The UK, Germany, Portugal, The Netherlands, Ireland, Australia and Belgium. It follows in the footsteps of the band's previous two albums 2009's xx and 2012's Coexist, which have now sold more than 3 million copies between them.

The xx are no strangers to Bestival.

They said: “Bestival was one of the first festivals we played, back in 2010, and it had always been a dream for us...we even begged to play the previous year.

"In 2012 we returned to play the main stage and we’re so happy to say we’ll be headlining this year, at the new site in Dorset. The Isle of Wight will hold a special place in our hearts but we’re excited to bring our new show to their new home”.

Synth-pop geniuses the Pet Shop Boys will bring the debut mainland Bestival to a suitably triumphant close as Sunday night headliners.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have sold more than 50 million records worldwide and are listed as the most successful duo in UK music history by The Guinness Book of Records.

Commenting on their headline show, Pet Shop Boys said: “Amazingly it is more than ten years since we last played Bestival but we remember it being one of the most enjoyable festivals ever.

"We're looking forward to bringing our new show there this year - and seeing how the audience has decided to dress up!"

Hip-hop heroes A Tribe Called Quest will headline Saturday at Bestival 2017, performing what will be their last UK Show.

The American hip-hop collective have announced their break-up. Tribe member Q-Tip said the group are performing their final few shows.

The group are touring currently promoting their final album We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service. Q-Tip announced the group’s breakup before paying tribute to Tribe founding member Phife Dawg who died in March 2016.

And completing 2017’s foursome of first-time headliners is Wimbledon’s finest, Jamie T, who will be the man kicking it all off with an exclusive performance topping the Thursday night bill on Bestival's second stage, The Box.

The English singer-songwriter's debut album Panic Prevention was shortlisted as one of the 12 nominees for the Mercury Prize. Panic Prevention has also received frequent name-checks in the ‘best albums of the decade’ lists. He has been nicknamed 'a one man Arctic monkey'.

Rob da Bank said: “What an adventure this promises to be… we have a beautiful new home with a massive castle in the middle of it, acres of beautiful woodland and forest, a sea view and the dramatic Jurassic coastline.

"Going back to our roots with Josie da Bank’s hand-drawn artwork, reviving all our favourite stages from 14 years of Bestival history and going out with all our headliners for the first time ever together, we’re pretty excited at Bestival HQ.

"From pop to grime, hip-hop to techno, folk to classical and every style in between we are reclaiming our place as the funnest, most adventurous, musically savvy and downright magical festival on the map."

This year's Bestival will feature brilliant new stages, incredible destinations and stone cold classics, including the new main stage The Castle Stage, the eclectic wonders of The Box, the hands in the air nirvana of Temple, Bestival’s heart and soul, Bollywood, and the righteous vibrations of Reggae Roots.

Back by popular demand is HMS Bestival - the last word in off the hook partying, plus you can dance like there’s no tomorrow in new venues The Frozen Mole and Stacey’s, delve into the vintage madness of Caravanserai, and Club DaDa, and kick back in the enchanting Ambient Forest, and at steam punk vision, Oberon’s Observatory.

There will also be the dazzling delights of The World's Biggest Confetti Canon, Castle Fireworks Finale, the Love-Bot, The World's Biggest Bouncy Castle, Bestival Inflatable Church, Confetti Wedding Disco, The Feast Collective, Slow Motion, Revolution Rides, Carnival Day Parade and Night Parades, the Sugar Skulls Cocktail Bus, Sunday Best Cardboard Record Shop, Lost in the Woods, Ancient Woodlands, Free Haircuts, Campsite Recycling Hubs, Kids’ Field and for all you vexillophiles out there, Flags by Angus Watt.

*Bestival, Lulworth Estate, Dorset, September 7 to 10. See www.bestival.net for more information.

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